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| Teaching philosophies in early learning settings |
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The early learning classroom in Australia has changed a lot in the last 20 years and with mothers increasingly moving into the workforce, the choice of child care has grown along with this trend. In 1987, only 29% of preschool-aged children attended in care. In 2016, 89% of 4-year olds were enrolled in some form of preschool program. Today, there is a multitude of teaching philosophies available to parents, each focusing on a different approach, and offering a different style of learning.
This week we look at some of the philosophies and approaches which have shaped the early learning landscape in Australia.
Montessori
Montessori is an approach that aims to support the full development of a child, inspiring a lifelong love for learning by following their natural development. Established by Dr Maria Montessori in 1907, today it is a well established and very popular early education method, used in around 22,000 schools worldwide, and more than 300 schools in Australia.
Montessori classrooms are set up as a prepared environment, where children can freely choose from a number of developmentally appropriate activities. Classes are grouped in mixed ages and abilities, where constant interaction and inclusivity encourage positive social development. Montessori also encourages children to learn to take care of themselves, their environment, and each other – cooking, cleaning, speaking politely, and being considerate and helpful.
Reggio Emilia
Focused on preschool and primary education, Reggio Emilia was founded as a new approach to early childhood education following the devastating effects of World War II. Today, the program has been widely adopted across the globe.
It is based on the belief that children are competent and curious, and thrive in a self-guided learning environment. The program is based on the principles of respect, responsibility and community, with the natural development of children and the relationship they share with their environment at the centre of its philosophy.
Art is an important component to a Reggio Emilia classroom, and the schools see parents as vital partners and collaborators in a child's early education. Classrooms look like home and parents are involved in every aspect of the curriculum. With no set lesson plans and a flexible curriculum, learning and growth is on the students' terms.
Magda Gerber
Magda Gerber's RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) philosophy is centred on respect and trust in the child's competence to be an initiator and explorer. This trust provides an infant with just enough help necessary for the child to master his or her own actions. Even in caregiving – feeding, changing, bathing – the smallest of infants are encouraged to be active participants. The philosophy gives infants plenty of time for uninterrupted play and plenty of freedom to explore and interact with their peers. Rather than trying to teach new skills, the method is to appreciate and support children in what they are actually doing.
The RIE environment is set up to be physically safe, cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing. This environment is one in which a child can best do all the things that the child would do naturally. Carers sensitively observe the child, in order to understand his or her needs, while offering consistency with clearly defined expectations to develop discipline.
Steiner Waldorf
Founded in 1919 in Stuttgart, by Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner, today there are over 1050 Steiner schools in 60 countries and almost 2,000 kindergartens and childcare centres. The Steiner philosophy is to provide "enjoyable and relevant learning through deep engagement and creative endeavour, to develop ethical, capable individuals who can contribute to society with initiative and purpose."
Influenced by thinkers such as Goethe and Jean Piaget, Steiner focuses of the development of the whole child: body, soul and spirit. The learning is split into three seven-year periods, with the first seven years of a child's life focused on sensory-based learning and devoted to developing a child's non-cognitive abilities. Therefore Steiner kindergartens focus on play and interaction with their environment, rather than academic content.
Walker Learning
Walker Learning is the first, and only major teaching approach to be developed in Australia, by Australians. Now, in its 21st year, it has been implemented across Australia in both public and independent schools, as well as being used in New Zealand, China and Indonesia.
Designed for children from birth to 14 years old, Walker Learning is a balance of explicit teaching that draws on children's own interests, with the aim of making literacy and numeracy meaningful and relevant to an individual. This is achieved through investigating a range of experiences – either through planned play or projects to build life skills, such as: resilience, thinking skills, problem solving, creativity, intrinsic motivation and self concept.
The learning environments are calm yet stimulating spaces to explore, experiment and learn, placing emphasis on relationships between teacher, child and family.
Walker Learning views the child holistically, aiming to deinstitutionalise traditional schooling, recognising that sustained motivation for learning comes from within and that assessment comes not from ranking one child against another, but instead the reflection of where one was, where they have grown, and where they are heading. The aim is to develop children who are strong in literacy in numeracy, who can create and imagine, who can think for themselves, and who can navigate the challenges of the 21st century.
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